Drawer cabinet storage kit

ABSTRACT

The present device provides an assembly, or kit, of injection molded panels having integrated connectors which combine to form a drawer cabinet with integrally formed guide rails and cooperating pull out drawers supported upon a plurality of rollers. The cabinet panels are formed of injection molded plastic and includes integrally formed connectors to interlock with one another without the need for separate fasteners. The integrated connection of the side, top and base panels simplifies the drawer cabinet construction and minimizes the number of components required to assemble the drawer cabinet. Injection molding allows the panels to be formed with integral cross-bracing, ribs and gussets for increased rigidity. When supplied as a kit, assembly of the drawer cabinet requires minimal hardware and a minimum number of hand tools.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a drawer cabinet kit constructed ofplastic structural panels. More specifically, the present inventionrelates to a stackable modular cabinet constructed of injection moldedplastic panels to contain at least one removable drawer, and which iscapable of being packaged and shipped in a knocked-down state andconstructed into a secure drawer cabinet at a desired site.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Throughout the home, a need exists to store a large variety of differentitems. This is particularly true of garage and utility areas where avast array of products are generally stored for selected use. Theaccumulation of these various objects and products gives rise to a needfor adequate storage of those items when not in use.

Various cabinets for storing items such as gardening tools, automotivesupplies, household items and the like are well known. One of the morepopular type of cabinets for storing household items is a cabinet with aplurality of pull-out drawers. Cabinets of this type are generallyshipped to a consumer or a supplier fully assembled. Shipping fullyassembled cabinetry requires a considerable amount of space availablewithin a shipping medium. Because space is limited, the cost associatedwith shipping assembled cabinets is comparatively high.

Alternatively, drawer cabinet assemblies are customized for the consumerbased on the consumer's needs. With customized cabinets, the consumerselects the cabinet material, the size of the associated drawers, andthe drawer guides needed to guide the drawers in and out of the cabinet.Numerous devices have been utilized throughout history to guide drawersin and out of drawer cabinets. The simplest mechanism is a box intowhich the drawer slides. Other methods of control include runners oneither side of the drawer or a single runner under the bottom of thedrawer with notches to hold the drawer in alignment with the cabinet.All of these basic guide systems have high levels of friction betweenthe drawer and the cabinet and, consequently, rapidly wear out. Numerouslow friction devices have been designed to facilitate movement ofdrawers in and out of cabinets including ball bearings, wheels, andsliders. Most of these low friction devices require unsightly tracksalong the side of the drawers, and wide spaces between the sides of thedrawers and the drawer face to allow passage of the low friction devicesfrom the inside of the drawer cabinet to the outside when the drawer isextended.

Side play of the drawer when extended is another difficult problem,particularly in the basic forms of drawer guides. Often the drawer mustbe moved from side to side and up and down in order to get it to returnto the drawer cabinet. As the guides become worn, the problem becomeseven more severe. Even drawer slides utilizing rollers, ball bearingsand sliders have binding problems, especially when the drawers areheavily loaded or the slide parts have become slightly worn.

The ball bearing type of drawer slide creates a different problem.Because there is virtually no side play in a ball bearing slide, thedrawer cabinet must be perfectly aligned with the drawer slide in orderto eliminate binding as the drawer is moved in and out. Skilled laborand time are required to properly position a ball bearing slide.

Fabrication costs of low friction slide arrangements are anotherproblem. The slide arrangements must be specially made for eachdifferent length of drawer. A long drawer requires a long slidearrangement and a short drawer requires a short slide arrangement.Manufacturers are required to maintain supplies of many differentlengths of drawer slides or modify slides for each customer.

Full extension drawer slides are a variation of the typical drawer slideand are used to permit full extension of drawers, such that the back ofthe drawer is fully accessible. Such drawer guides usually use three ormore rails with one rail (cabinet rail) being attached to the cabinet,one rail (drawer rail) being attached to the drawer and one rail(floating rail) gliding between the drawer and cabinet rails. Examplesof such drawer guides are disclosed in United States Pat. Nos. to Card,U.S. Pat. No. 1,537,067, Tobey, U.S. Pat. No. 2,099,148, Schaffert, U.S.Pat. No. 1,129,831, Bullock et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,749, Vander Ley,U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,841, Lautenschalager U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,027,Fleisch, U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,102, Fraccaro, U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,574. Inthese systems, rollers or ball bearings are provided on racks betweenthe floating rail and the cabinet and drawer rails to provide freegliding movement between each of the rails.

One of the problems associated with such systems is that they tend to berather large and bulky, which limits their use on smaller drawers.Further, such systems are relatively complicated and difficult tofabricate, resulting in high costs to consumers.

Such prior art systems have not met all of the needs of manufacturers toprovide a product that can be easily manufactured, packaged and shipped,or the needs of consumers requiring economical and versatiledo-it-yourself storage kits. Moreover, because the prior art devices donot break down they are difficult and expensive to ship from themanufacturer to the consumer.

Paramount among such needs is an easy to assemble kit which can beeasily assembled by an average homeowner. Structure is a furtherconsideration; a cabinet formed from separate panels must create cabinetwalls which resist panel separation, buckling and racking in such a wayas to unify the entire enclosure.

Also, from a versatility standpoint, a cooperating drawer and guideshould be present which can be easily assembled or modified afterassembly of the side, top, base and back panels, and which providessecurity and dependable access to the contents of the drawers withoutthe complex and difficult to assemble mechanisms associated with theprior art.

There are also commercial considerations that must be satisfied by anyviable drawer cabinet system or kit; considerations which are notentirely satisfied by state of the art products. The drawer cabinet mustbe formed of relatively few component parts that are inexpensive tomanufacture by conventional techniques. The drawer cabinet must also becapable of being packaged and shipped in a knocked-down state.

In addition, there are ergonomic needs that a drawer cabinet system mustsatisfy in order to achieve acceptance by the end user. The system mustbe easily and quickly assembled using minimal hardware and requiring aminimal number of tools. Further, the system must not require excessivestrength to assemble or include heavy component parts. Moreover, thesystem must assemble together in such a way so as not to detract fromthe internal storage volume of the resulting wall cabinet or otherwisenegatively affect the utility of the drawer cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an assembly, or kit, of injection moldedpanels having integrated connectors which combine to form a drawercabinet with integrally formed guide rails and cooperating pull outdrawers supported upon a plurality of rollers. The cabinet panels areformed of injection molded plastic and include integrally formedconnectors to interlock with one another without the need for separatefasteners. The integrated connection of the side, back, top and basepanels simplifies the drawer cabinet construction and minimizes thenumber of components required to assemble the drawer cabinet. Injectionmolding allows the panels to be formed with integral cross-bracing, ribsand gussets for increased rigidity. When supplied as a kit, assembly ofthe drawer cabinet requires minimal hardware and a minimum number ofhand tools.

The drawer cabinet assembly includes a base panel, left and right sidepanels and a top panel. The base panel is constructed with integrallyformed outwardly extending contoured locking posts for interlockingcooperative engagement with sockets formed into the bottom surfaces ofthe left and right panels. The engagement between the locking posts andthe sockets serve to rigidly connect the components together, preventingthe panels from bowing inwardly or outwardly under loads to provide astructurally sound cabinet with a pleasing aesthetic appearance. Theconstruction of the panels minimize complexity of completing theassembly while increasing versatility by allowing the consumer tocustomize the assembly for specific needs. For example, the bottomsurface of the base panel includes sockets allowing the base panel to beused as a top panel. This construction permits the multiple drawercabinet units to integrated into a multiple drawer cabinet.Alternatively, the drawer cabinets may be placed in a stackedarrangement having the lower surface of one drawer cabinet removeablyengaged with the upper surface of another top panel of an adjacentlypositioned drawer cabinet.

The interior portion of the cabinet includes integrally moldedhorizontal channels extending along each side. The channels extend fromthe front portion of each side panel to the rear portion of each sidepanel. Each channel is constructed and arranged to accept an outwardlydepending drawer guide rail in a cooperating arrangement to preventdrawer tipping during extension and insertion thereof. The base panelincludes a plurality of rollers secured within the base panel in amanner to cooperate with the bottom surface of the drawer member,allowing the drawer to be easily moved when loaded. In a preferredembodiment, a first pair of rollers are positioned to support the frontportion of the drawer member and a second pair of rollers are positionedto support the rear portion of the drawer.

The snap together construction minimizes complexity of completing theassembly while increasing versatility by allowing the consumer tocustomize the assembly for specific needs. The built-in construction ofthe drawer guide channels and rollers eliminates the need for skilledtradesmen to line-up and mount complicated hardware within the cabinet.In this manner, the consumer can select one or a plurality of drawercabinets having various heights, snap together the panels in the desiredconfiguration, and thereafter slide in the drawers to complete theassembly.

The drawers are pre-constructed of polymeric material and include a pairof integrally formed handles that allow a removed drawer to be easilytransported. The bottom surface of the drawer members are adapted tocooperate with the rollers for easy movement in and out of the cabineteven when heavily loaded. In addition, the bottom surface of the drawermember includes an alignment pocket adapted to cooperate with the uppersurface of the top panel of the cabinet for removeably fixed placementoutside of the cabinet.

In operation, as a loaded drawer is pulled outward it rolls freely onthe rollers, utilizing the track and channel combination prevent thedrawer from tipping. This construction allows the drawers to be easilyopened with heavy loads without requiring complex sliding trackmechanisms to prevent tipping of the drawer.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide apolymeric drawer cabinet assembly having integrally formed guideassemblies and at least one cooperating drawer.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a drawercabinet assembly having an integrally formed drawer guide, by which acooperating drawer can be smoothly guided inwardly and outwardly of acabinet body without the need for complex metal guiding mechanisms.

Yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide a drawercabinet assembly having an integrally formed drawer guide which allowsthe drawer to be guided a sufficient distance out of the cabinet body toprovide access to the interior of the drawer without tipping.

Still yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide adrawer cabinet assembly constructed from injection molded plastic panelshaving integrated connectors for increased structural integrity and easyassembly.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a drawercabinet storage kit in which the side walls, top panel, and base panelare interlocked without the need for separate fasteners.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a kit for adrawer cabinet that is capable of being packaged and shipped in aknocked-down state and constructed into a secure drawer cabinet.

Still yet another objective of the present invention is to provide adrawer and guide assembly which allows an end user to customize a drawercabinet to suit an individual application.

Other objectives and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration andexample, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitutea part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the instant invention, illustrated withthe drawer omitted for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of the embodimentsshown in FIG. 1 in a stacked arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of the embodimentsshown in FIG. 1 in an interlocked arrangement;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the instant invention, illustrating thedrawer member in an extended position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the instant invention, illustrating thedrawer member engaged upon the upper surface of the top panel member;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the roller members ofthe instant invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating the locking assemblyof the instant invention;

FIG. 9 is a lower perspective view of the instant invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view illustrating the lower surface ofthe base panel of the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in variousforms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be describeda presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention andis not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsillustrated.

FIGS. 1 and 2 which are now referenced illustrate perspective andexploded views of the drawer cabinet assembly, generally referenced as10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Thedrawer cabinet is made up of a base panel 100, top panel 200, left sidepanel 300, right side panel 400 and drawer 600. In the preferredembodiment, the panels comprising the assembly are formed of, but notlimited to, a suitable polymeric material, through the process ofinjection molding. The result is that the panels comprising the drawercabinet assembly 10 are formed as unitary panels with integralconnectors and cross bracing. Strengthening ribs 120 (FIG. 9) areintegrally formed within the lower surfaces of the top and base panels100, 200 in order to enhance rigidity of the panels while leaving theexternal surface in a generally smooth condition for aesthetic purposes,as shown in FIG. 1. Injection molding offers significant strength andstability advantages over wood or metal construction as utilized in theprior art. In this manner the enclosure of the instant invention iscapable of handling a significant amount of weight as compared to woodenor sheet metal cabinets.

The base panel 100 has an upper surface 102, lower surface 103 (FIG. 9),front edge 104, rear edge 106, left edge 108 and right edge 110.Adjacent to each of the left, and right edges 108, 110 is a means ofattaching the base panel to the left side panel 300 and right side panel400, illustrated herein as a plurality of formed locking posts 112extending upwardly from the upper surface. The integrally formed lockingposts 112 are constructed and arranged to cooperate with sockets 310extending inwardly in a linear fashion along the lower edges of the left300 and right 400 panels. The locking posts 112 and sockets 310 areconstructed and arranged so that the locking posts 112 enter andmateably engage the sockets 310 securing the panels together in aninter-fitting perpendicular engagement. In a most preferred embodiment,the base panel locking posts 112 each include at least one integrallyformed spring-tab 114. The spring-tabs are constructed and arranged tocooperate with apertures 314 provided in the locking sockets 310 forpositively maintaining secure coupling engagement between the base panel100 and the left and right panels 300 and 400.

The top panel 200 has an upper surface 202, lower surface 204, frontedge 206, rear edge 208, left edge 210 and right edge 212. Adjacent toeach of the rear, left and right edges 208, 210, and 212 respectively isa means of attaching the top panel to the left side panel 300, rightside panel 400, and back panel 500. The means of attaching the panels isillustrated herein as a plurality of formed sockets 112 extendingoutwardly from the lower surface 204. The formed sockets are constructedand arranged to cooperate with locking posts 112 extending oywardly in alinear fashion along the upper edges of the left 300 and right 400panels. The locking posts 112 and sockets 310 are constructed andarranged so that the locking posts 112 enter and mateably engage thesockets 310 securing the panels together in an inter-fittingperpendicular engagement. In a most preferred embodiment, the side panellocking posts 112 each include at least one integrally formed spring-tab114. The spring-tabs are constructed and arranged to cooperate withapertures 314 provided in the locking sockets 310 for positivelymaintaining secure coupling engagement between the top panel 200 and theleft and right panels 300 and 400.

The left side panel 300 is constructed and arranged for enclosing theleft side of the drawer cabinet. The left side panel 300 includes a topedge 302, a bottom edge 304, a front edge 306, a back edge 308, an innersurface 312 and an outer surface (not shown). The top edge 302 includesa means for attaching the left side panel to the bottom surface of thepanel 100 or the top panel 200 in a perpendicular relationship. Theattachment means is illustrated herein as a plurality of formed lockingposts 112 extending upwardly from the top edge 302. The integrallyformed locking posts 112 are constructed and arranged to cooperate withsockets 310 extending inwardly in a linear fashion along the lower edgesof the base 100 and top 200 panels. The locking posts 112 and sockets310 are constructed and arranged so that the locking posts 112 enter andmateably engage the sockets 310 securing the panels together in aninter-fitting perpendicular engagement. In a most preferred embodiment,the side panel locking posts 112 each include at least one integrallyformed spring-tab 114. The spring-tabs are constructed and arranged tocooperate with apertures 314 provided in the locking sockets 310 forpositively maintaining secure coupling engagement between the base ortop panel 100, 200 and the left side panel 300. The bottom edge 304include a means for attaching the left side panel to the base panel 100in a perpendicular relationship. The attachment means is illustratedherein as a plurality of locking sockets 310 arranged in a linearfashion extending inwardly along the bottom edge 304. The lockingsockets 310 preferably include at least one aperture 314. The apertures314 are constructed and arranged to cooperate with the locking postspring tabs 114 for positively maintaining secure coupling engagementbetween the left side panel 300 and the base panel 100. The innersurface 312 includes an integrally formed means for guiding a drawermember in a generally parallel relationship with respect to the upperand lower panels. The drawer guide means is illustrated herein as ahorizontally extending channel 316 integrally molded on the innersurface 312 of the left side panel 300. The channel 316 extends fromabout the front edge 306 of the panel to about the rear edge 308 of thepanel. The channel 316 is generally constructed and arranged tocooperate with a drawer rail 610 (FIGS. 5 and 6) to prevent tipping ofthe drawer during insertion and removal thereof.

The right side panel 400 is constructed and arranged for enclosing theright side of the drawer cabinet 10. The right side panel 400 includes atop edge 402, a bottom edge 404, a front edge 406, a back edge 408, aninner surface (not shown) and an outer surface 414. The top edge 402 andthe bottom edge 404 include a means for attaching the right side panel400 to the base panel 100 and the top panel 200 in a perpendicularrelationship. The attachment means is illustrated herein as a pluralityof formed locking posts 112 extending upwardly from the top edge 402.The integrally formed locking posts 112 are constructed and arranged tocooperate with sockets 310 extending inwardly in a linear fashion alongthe lower edges of the base 100 and top 200 panels. The locking posts112 and sockets 310 are constructed and arranged so that the lockingposts 112 enter and mateably engage the sockets 310 securing the panelstogether in an inter-fitting perpendicular engagement. In a mostpreferred embodiment, the side panel locking posts 112 each include atleast one integrally formed spring-tab 114. The spring-tabs areconstructed and arranged to cooperate with apertures 314 provided in thelocking sockets 310 for positively maintaining secure couplingengagement between the base or top panel 100, 200 and the left sidepanel 300. The bottom edge 404 includes a means for attaching the leftside panel to the base panel 100 in a perpendicular relationship. Theattachment means is illustrated herein as a plurality of locking sockets310 arranged in a linear fashion extending inwardly along the bottomedge 404. The locking sockets 310 preferably include at least oneaperture 314. The apertures 314 are constructed and arranged tocooperate with the locking post spring tabs 114 for positivelymaintaining secure coupling engagement between the right side panel 300and the base panel 100. The inner surface includes an integrally formedmeans for guiding a drawer member in a generally parallel relationshipwith respect to the upper and lower panels. The drawer guide means isillustrated herein as a horizontally extending channel 316 integrallymolded on the inner surface 412 of the right side panel 400. The channel316 extends from about the front edge 406 of the panel to about the rearedge 408 of the panel. The channel 316 is generally constructed andarranged to cooperate with a drawer rail 610 (FIGS. 5 and 6) to providesupport and prevent tipping and canting of the drawers during insertionand removal thereof.

The left and right panels 300 and 400 are attached to the top and bottompanels 100 and 200 by inserting the locking posts 112 into lockingsockets 310 until the spring tabs 114 integrally formed into the lockingposts 112 engage the apertures 314 in the sockets 310. It will beappreciated that the purpose of the locking posts 112 are to align twopanels in a perpendicular relationship and to facilitate theirmechanical connection. The perpendicular panels are brought into acoupled relationship wherein the locking posts 112 enter thecorresponding sockets 310. The result is a mechanically secureengagement between the panels. The coupling engagement between thepanels as described above provides a secure connection and offersseveral advantages. First, the design allows the panels to be connectedwithout the need for separate fasteners. Second, the design creates apositive lock that prevents separation of the panels. Third, the designmaintains alignment of the panels and prevents bowing or bending ofeither panel relative to one another. The resultant drawer cabinetcreated by the combination of the interlocking panels benefits from highstructural integrity and reliable operation.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 9 and 10, a combination of drawer cabinets isillustrated in a stacked arrangement. To facilitate the stackedarrangement, the upper surface 202 of the top panel 200 includes araised alignment boss 214. The alignment boss is constructed andarranged to cooperate with a plurality of downwardly extending alignmenttabs 116 formed onto the lower surface of the bottom panel 100, asillustrated in FIG. 10 to releasably secure and prevent the drawercabinet from sliding with respect to the adjacently positioned lowerdrawer cabinet. The alignment tabs are positioned to engage the outerperimeter of the alignment boss 214 to permit the stacked arrangementwithout allowing the vertically positioned drawer cabinets to slide.

Referring to FIG. 4, a combination of drawer cabinets are illustrated inan integrated arrangement. To facilitate the integrated arrangement, thetop panel is omitted and the lower surface of the base panel 100 isconstructed and arranged to cooperate with the top edge of the left andright side wall panels 300, 400 in an interlocking relationship. In thismanner any number of drawer cabinets may be integrated together into asingle unit to suit a user's needs.

Referring to FIG. 6, a drawer 600 is provided for enclosing the front ofthe drawer cabinet 10 and providing storage within the cabinet. Thedrawer 600 includes a front portion 602, a rear portion 604, a left side606, a right side 608 and a bottom surface 614. The left portion 606 andthe right portion 608 each include at least one outwardly extendingguide rail 610 integrally formed thereto. The front and rear portionsinclude integrally formed hand-holds 612 and lock bolt apertures 616. Inthe preferred embodiment the rails 610 cooperate with the channels 316of the side panels, while the rollers 118 and slides 124 cooperate withthe bottom portion of the drawer 614 during movement of the drawermember 600. In this manner, the cooperating rollers and drawer railsprevent the drawer from tipping as the drawer is extended outwardly fromthe drawer cabinet. The lower surface 614 of the drawer 600 includes anintegrally formed pocket (not shown) sized and shaped to cooperate withthe alignment boss 214 to allow a drawer to be positioned on the uppersurface of the top panel 200 releasably securing the drawer to cabinet.

For supporting and facilitating easy movement of a drawer 600, the basepanel 100 includes a plurality of rollers 118 rotatably mounted therein.The rollers 118 are sized and positioned between an upper surface 102and a lower surface 122 of the base panel 100 so that a portion of theroller protrudes above the top surface. The upper surface of the basepanel 100 also includes a plurality of upwardly protruding slidesurfaces 124. The slide surfaces are integrally formed into the uppersurface 102 of the base panel and are constructed and arranged tocooperate with the bottom surface of the drawer members to preventtipping and/or canting thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, in a preferred embodiment the front portion ofthe top and or bottom panels include an integrally formed locking tab216. The locking tab is constructed and arranged to align with the boltaperture 616 within each drawer member. In this manner, a user mayextend a seal or lock through the apertures to prevent unwanted entryinto a drawer cabinet.

Referring to FIGS. 9-11, the lower surface 103 of the base panel isillustrated. The lower surface of the base panel includes a plurality ofintegrally formed caster bosses 126. The caster basses are constructedand arranged to cooperate with casters 128 to allow an assembled drawercabinet to be easily moved from one point to another even when loaded.

Thus, a drawer cabinet kit with integral drawer guides and cooperatingdrawers has been shown and described. The kit is comprised of injectionmolded components having integrated connectors which may be assembled ona desired site without requiring separate fasteners or tools.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification areindicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which theinvention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporatedby reference to the same extent as if each individual publication wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention isillustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangementherein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to whatis shown and described in the specification.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the presentinvention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain theends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. Theembodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein arepresently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended tobe exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changestherein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which areencompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by thescope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been describedin connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should beunderstood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited tosuch specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of thedescribed modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious tothose skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. A drawer cabinet kit comprising: a base panel for enclosing thebottom portion of said drawer cabinet, said base panel having an uppersurface, a lower surface, a left end, a right end, a front portion and arear portion, said left end including a plurality of upright lockingposts constructed and arranged for attaching said base panel to a leftside panel in a perpendicular relationship, said right end including aplurality of upright locking posts constructed and arranged forattaching said base panel to a right side panel in a perpendicularrelationship, said rear portion including a means for preventing overinsertion of a drawer member; a top panel for enclosing the top portionof said drawer cabinet, said top panel having an upper surface, a lowersurface, a left end, a right end, a front portion and a rear portion,said left end including a means for attaching said top panel to a leftside panel in a perpendicular relationship, said right end including ameans for attaching said top panel to a right side panel in aperpendicular relationship; a left side panel for enclosing the leftside portion of said drawer cabinet, said left side panel including atop edge, a bottom edge, a front edge, a back edge, an inner surface andan outer surface, said top edge including a means for attaching saidleft side panel to said top panel in a perpendicular relationship, saidbottom edge including a plurality of locking sockets constructed andarranged to cooperate with said locking posts of said base panel, saidlocking posts of said base panel are brought into coupling engagementwith corresponding locking sockets of said left panel resulting in amechanically secure connection between said base panel and said leftside panel arrange, said inner surface including a means for guiding atleast one removably secured drawer member to provide support and preventtipping and canting of said at least one drawer while said at least onedrawer is moved inwardly and outwardly of said cabinet assembly; a rightside panel for enclosing the right side portion of said drawer cabinet,said right side panel including a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge,a back edge, an inner surface and an outer surface, said top edgeincluding a means for attaching said right side panel to said top panelin a perpendicular relationship, said bottom edge including a pluralityof locking sockets constructed and arranged to cooperate with saidlocking posts of said base panel, said locking posts of said base panelare brought into coupling engagement with corresponding locking socketsof said right panel resulting in a mechanically secure connectionbetween said base panel and said right side panel, said inner surfaceincluding a means for guiding at least one removably secured drawermember to provide support and prevent tipping and canting of saidcabinet; at least one drawer member for enclosing the front of saiddrawer cabinet and providing a storage area within said drawer cabinet,said at least one drawer including a front portion, a rear portion, aleft side, a right side and a bottom, wherein said at least one draweris constructed and arranged to be moved inwardly and outwardly withrespect to said drawer cabinet to provide access to said storage areawithin said at least one drawer; said lower surface of said base panelincludes a plurality of integrally formed locking sockets, said lockingsockets are constructed and arranged to cooperate with a plurality oflocking posts arranged on said top edge of at least one of said left andsaid right side panels, said locking posts of said at least one of saidleft side panel and said right side panel are brought into a couplingengagement with corresponding locking sockets in said lower surface ofsaid base panel resulting in a mechanically secure connection betweensaid base panel and said side panels, wherein at least two drawercabinets are integrated together into a multiple drawer cabinet; whereinsaid drawer cabinet kit can be shipped in a disassembled state andassembled on a desired site without separate fasteners.
 2. The drawercabinet kit as described in claim 1, wherein said means for guiding saidat least one drawer includes at least one channel integrally molded intoeach of said inner surfaces of said left and said right side panels,wherein said at least one channel extends from about said front edge ofsaid panels to about said rear edge of said panels.
 3. The drawercabinet kit as described in claim 1, wherein said left side and saidright side of said at least one drawer each include at least oneoutwardly projecting guide rail, wherein said guide rail is constructedand arranged to cooperate with said at least one channel to preventcanting of said drawers while said drawers are moved inwardly andoutwardly of said drawer cabinet.
 4. The drawer cabinet kit as describedin claim 3, wherein said guide rails are integrally formed to said atleast one drawer.
 5. The drawer cabinet kit as described in claim 3,wherein said at least one guide rail is constructed and arranged to havea substantially conjugate shape with respect to said at least onechannel integrally formed into each said side panel, wherein said atleast one guide rail enters said at least one channel for slidingengagement between said drawer member and said side panels.
 6. Thedrawer cabinet kit as described in claim 1, wherein said base panelincludes at least one pair of rollers for supporting said at least onedrawer member, wherein said at least one pair of rollers are rotatablymounted in said front portion of said base panel, wherein said rollersare sized and positioned between said upper surface and said lowersurface so that a portion of said rollers protrudes above said uppersurface for engaging said bottom of said at least one drawer member. 7.The drawer cabinet kit as described in claim 6, wherein said base panelincludes two pair of rollers for supporting said at least one drawermember, wherein one pair of said rollers are rotatably mounted in saidfront portion of said base panel, wherein one pair of said rollers arerotatably mounted in said rear portion of said base panel, wherein saidrollers are sized and positioned between said upper surface and saidlower surface so that a portion of said rollers protrudes above saidupper surface for engaging said bottom of said at least one drawermember.
 8. The drawer cabinet kit as described in claim 1, wherein saidbottom of said at least one drawer member includes an alignment pocketintegrally formed therein, wherein said alignment pocket is constructedand arranged to cooperate with an alignment boss integrally formed onsaid upper surface of said top panel for releasably securing said atleast one drawer upon said upper surface of said top panel.
 9. Thedrawer cabinet kit as described in claim 1, wherein said front portionof said top panel includes an integrally formed locking tab, whereinsaid locking tab includes an aperture constructed and arranged to alignwith a bolt aperture within said at least one drawer member when saiddrawer member is in a closed position, wherein a lock or seal may beextended through said locking tab aperture and said bolt aperture toprevent unwanted entry into said drawer member.
 10. The drawer cabinetkit as described in claim 1, wherein said front portion of said basepanel includes an integrally formed locking tab, wherein said lockingtab includes an aperture constructed and arranged to align with a boltaperture within said at least one drawer member when said drawer memberis in a closed position, wherein a lock or seal may be extended throughsaid locking tab aperture and said bolt aperture to prevent unwantedentry into said drawer member.
 11. The drawer cabinet kit as describedin claim 1, wherein said lower surface of said base panel includes aplurality of integrally formed caster bosses, wherein each of saidcaster bosses is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a caster forallowing said drawer cabinet to be easily moved.
 12. The drawer cabinetkit as described in claim 1, wherein said lower surface of said basepanel includes a plurality of integrally formed downwardly dependingnesting tabs, wherein said nesting tabs are constructed and arranged tocooperate with a top panel alignment boss to allow at least two drawercabinets to be placed in a stacked arrangement.
 13. (canceled) 14.(canceled)
 15. The drawer cabinet kit as described in claim 1 whereinsaid base panel locking posts include at least one integrally formedspring-tab, wherein said at least one spring-tab is constructed andarranged to cooperate with said locking sockets for positivelymaintaining secure coupling engagement between said base panel and saidleft and right panels.
 16. The drawer cabinet kit as described in claim1, wherein said means for attaching said top panel to said left sidepanel and said right side panel includes a plurality of outwardlyextending locking posts extending upwardly from said top surface of saidleft and said right side panels, wherein said locking posts areconstructed and arranged to cooperate with a plurality of lockingsockets integrally formed into said lower surface of said top panel,wherein said locking posts are brought into an coupling engagement withcorresponding locking sockets resulting in a mechanically secureconnection between said top, left and right panels.
 17. The drawercabinet kit as described in claim 16 wherein said left and right sidepanel locking posts include at least one integrally formed spring-tab,wherein said at least one spring-tab is constructed and arranged tocooperate with said locking sockets for positively maintaining securecoupling engagement between said top panel and said left, right and backpanels.
 18. The drawer cabinet kit as described in claim 1 wherein saidleft side panel, and said right side panel include a plurality oflocking sockets arranged in a linear fashion along said bottom edgesthereof, said locking sockets extending inwardly between said outersurface and said inner surface, wherein said locking sockets areconstructed and arranged to cooperate with said base panel, wherein saidbase panel is secured to said left and right panels via said lockingsockets.
 19. The drawer cabinet kit as described in claim 18, wherein atleast one of said locking sockets include an aperture therethrough,wherein said aperture is constructed and arranged for mating engagementwith said at least one spring-tab integrally formed onto said lockingposts of said base panel.
 20. The drawer cabinet kit as described inclaim 1, wherein said lower surface of said base panel includesintegrally formed cross-bracing, wherein said cross-bracing providesincreased weight capacity and stability to said drawer cabinet kit.